china's population falls for the first time in more than six decades. we look at the impact that is having. a big blow to the uk's car industry as an electric car battery company,

britishvolt, collapses. in ukraine, we have a special report from the front lines near soledar and bakhmut. troops tell the bbc they desperately need western tanks to make progress on the battlefield. and belgian police reveal a key suspect in an eu corruption investigation has cut a deal with investigators. hello and welcome to the programme. we begin in china where an unwelcome milestone has been reached. the country's population fell for the first time since the 1960s and the national birth rate also fell to the lowest it's been since data collection began, in 1949. the announcement on tuesday comes alongside one of china's worst economic performances in almost half a century, its gdp expanding by 3% last year, far short of the government's target of 5.5% growth. the labour force is shrinking, as the country's retired population keeps growing. let's take a look at some of the numbers. china's population last year was over 1.4 billion people, according to official data. that's a decrease of

850,000 people from 2021. as for the national birth rate, it sank to just 6.77 births per thousand people. compare that with the united states, where it stands atjust over 11 births per thousand people. here's how some beijing residents reacted to the news. translation: ithinkfirstly, - the cost to raise a child now is too high, from when they are little to when they go to school, and when they look for a job in the future and get married and have their own children. the cost is too high. we don't have any plans to have a second child. translation: | feel worried | about the population decline, especially for my generation who were born after 1990. most of us are the only child. if we are not married, the girl will need to take care

of her parents and her grandparents, if they're still alive. so the burden on everyone is quite heavy. putting aside the financial burdens, it's quite a heavy commitment for people in our generation, in terms of time and energy. for more on this, i am joined now by dr elin charles—edwards — population expert from the school of earth and environmental sciences at the university of queensland. it is wonderful to get you on the programme, professor. in terms of how dramatic this is and the significance of these figures, took us through that.— us through that. thank you for havin: us through that. thank you for having me- — us through that. thank you for having me. we _ us through that. thank you for having me. we have _ us through that. thank you for having me. we have known i us through that. thank you for| having me. we have known this us through that. thank you for - having me. we have known this was coming for a real —— long time but it is a real milestone and this coupled with the fact that india will take over china rose the most populous country this year is a real shift in the global population. ianthem shift in the global population. when ou look at shift in the global population. when you look at the _ shift in the global population. when you look at the fact _ shift in the global population. when you look at the fact that _ shift in the global population. when you look at the fact that it - shift in the global population. when you look at the fact that it has been a trend, what are you expecting to see, in terms of the impact on chinese society and the economy there? we

chinese society and the economy there? ~ ., ~ ., , , chinese society and the economy there? ., ~ ., , there? we have known this is coming, most countries — there? we have known this is coming, most countries are _ there? we have known this is coming, most countries are going _ there? we have known this is coming, most countries are going through - there? we have known this is coming, most countries are going through a . most countries are going through a demographic transition where we are having sustained falls in fertility rates over time, and china's fertility levels has been below replacement levels since the 1990s. it has a profound impact on the population and you've got fewer young people supporting an ever larger share of elderly chinese. who; larger share of elderly chinese. why is this happening? talk us through the historical context of all of this. . . , the historical context of all of this. . ., , ., , this. there are a number of reasons that fertility — this. there are a number of reasons that fertility falls, _ this. there are a number of reasons that fertility falls, initially _ this. there are a number of reasons that fertility falls, initially it - that fertility falls, initially it is about childhood mortality, as infants set by, people reduce their family size but as economies develop and modernise, we had seen that the cost of children capital shifts so in agrarian societies children can be a force of labour but as countries industrialise and urbanised, they become a net cost so

people want fewer children, they focus on the poverty rather than the quantity of children. he focus on the poverty rather than the quantity of children.— quantity of children. he referenced india a quantity of children. he referenced india a little _ quantity of children. he referenced india a little earlier _ quantity of children. he referenced india a little earlier on _ quantity of children. he referenced india a little earlier on in _ quantity of children. he referenced india a little earlier on in our - india a little earlier on in our conversation, things are different there in terms of population growth? they are, india is still growing. backin they are, india is still growing. back in 1915, both china and india had fertility rates of round six children per woman but china's decline in fertility has been much more specific test than india's. the future we are seeing in china was something that india will have to encounter and manage in the coming decades. ~ , ., ., encounter and manage in the coming decades. ~ ., ., ., decades. when you look at population arowth, decades. when you look at population growth. often — decades. when you look at population growth, often countries _ decades. when you look at population growth, often countries in _ decades. when you look at population growth, often countries in the - decades. when you look at population growth, often countries in the past. growth, often countries in the past had seen that has an issue, they want to keep populations under control so they can serve the people, governments can serve the people, governments can serve the people that are living in those countries, why has this become such a challenge and can administrations do anything to reverse this? i a challenge and can administrations do anything to reverse this?- do anything to reverse this? i think an bi do anything to reverse this? i think any big shift _ do anything to reverse this? i think any big shift in _ do anything to reverse this? i think any big shift in demographic - do anything to reverse this? i ii�*u “ia; any big shift in demographic regimes is challenging but this is something

we're all going to be faced with, globally, by the end of the century. we will be looking at a stable or declining population. the big challenges the shifting age structure, how we manage the fact that we fewer productive workers but it is something that we will all encounter and be faced with and there is very little we can do about it. ., ~ there is very little we can do about it. . ~ , ., there is very little we can do about it. . ~ i., ., there is very little we can do about to the uk now — where the electric car battery company britishvolt has collapsed, making most of its 300 staff redundant. the company had been planning to build a giant battery—making factory in northumberland. it was to be a vital part of britain's transition to electric vehicles, but it struggled to raise enough money to stay afloat. our business editor simonjack reports. it's time to power up the future... a bold and ambitious vision. a plant that would produce batteries

to power a new generation of uk—made electric cars, creating 3,000 jobs at a state—of—the—art facility in northumberland and thousands more in the supply chain. the current reality is this. a barely—touched site, a company gone bust, and nearly 300 workers sacked with immediate effect today. so where did it all go wrong? well, britishvolt was a start—up company, so had no track record. their battery technology was only at the prototype stage. and although there were expressions of interest from lotus and aston martin, they had no real customers and therefore no revenue. and yet they were burning through their backers�* cash fast, nearly going bust last november, and finally collapsing today. this is a setback for the uk's car industry. currently, the uk only has one working battery plant, chinese—owned and right next to nissan, which is its only customer. but look at this. around europe, these are the plants that are either working or under construction, with many more planned. and remember, the sale of new petrol

and diesel cars will be banned in the uk and other european markets in just seven years' time. the industry estimates the uk will need four of these plants up and running by then. the clock is ticking, and the reason the clock is ticking is because it takes five years to get one of these plants from announcement into full production. we only have seven years left until the first milestone of 2030 comes into place. if we do not start these batteries soon, the uk will struggle to maintain a car industry. the plant at blyth ticked a lot of political boxes, an example of post—brexit investment and green technology that helped the levelling up agenda. it offered £100 million in support if construction milestones were hit. they weren't. labour said it remained ripe for development but would need greater government commitment. there is a brilliant site in blyth, it hopefully will become a gigafactory. but unless the government has a real

strategy to attract the investment required to do that to the uk, we risk losing what is three quarters of a million jobs in the automotive sector in the long term in the uk. the government stressed that £100 million worth of support was still available to future investors with a credible plan to build a plant that everyone accepts is needed. simonjack reporting simon jack reporting on simonjack reporting on that story for us. the uk and the us have reaffirmed their support for ukraine in its struggle against the russian invasion. the uk foreign secretary, james cleverly, has been holding talks with us secretary of state, antony blinken, during a visit to washington. mr cleverly praised western unity and had this message for president putin. whilst three quarters of the entire membership of the united nations voted to condemn this invasion, we should remember that never in living memory has russia been more isolated and the atlantic alliance more united.

if putin believed the world would succumb to ukraine fatigue and lose the will to resist his ambitions, then that was, once again, another colossal misjudgment on his part. and us secretary of state, antony blinken, welcomed the uk's defence support for ukraine and said the us would also increase humanitarian help. we applaud the prime minister's commitment over the weekend to send challenger to tanks and additional artillery systems to ukraine. —— challenger ii tanks. elements that will continue to reinforce and add to what the united states has provided, including in our most recent drawdown. we remain united in strengthening our humanitarian assistance to the ukrainian people, especially as president putin continues to weaponize winter by attacking ukraine's electricity grid. meanwhile in ukraine, the intense fighting around soledar and bahkmut continues. troops on the front line there have told the bbc they welcome news from the uk —

that they're to receive around a dozen challenger tanks, a move they hope will turn the tide in the war. together with missile defence systems — modern equipment from the west — is likely to be pivotal in the next few months in this war. the bbc�*s andrew harding has spent some time with a tank unit near bakhmut and sent this report. lurking in a snowbound forestjust behind the front lines, a cluster of ukrainian tanks. but these are ancient warhorses, half a century old. no match for russia's army. "they are just not suitable for this era," the company commander readily admits. "they work, but the technology has moved on." gunfire which is why there's great excitement here about the prospect of new western machines. if you could have any tank — challenger, leopard, abrams,

any of these foreign tanks that are being offered — would it make a difference? i think abrams, leopard, challenger, it's very good for us. any tank? any tanks, any tanks. it helps for us, for victory. suddenly, there is incoming fire close by. a hurried exit for us and a reminder of the unpredictable nature of artillery warfare. we head closer to the front, towards two furiously contested towns, soledar and bakhmut. ukrainian footage of a recent tank battle here, firing on the move. on a frozen hillside near bakhmut, we watch more ukrainian tanks in action. they call this section of the front line the meat grinder — a savage artillery war that has raged for months with precious

little progress on either side. but the ukrainians here insist that's about to change — if, that is, they get western tanks here soon. if you're going to counterattack, if you're going to seize more territory, then you need tanks, you need mobile artillery? sure. it's very useful for counterattacking, because infantry covered by tanks, for sure, win. without that, these front lines are going to be stuck like they are? yeah. for now, it grinds on, a cold and lethal winter stalemate. andrew harding, bbc news, in ukraine's donbas. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: we're getting ready for another day at the australian open and we'll be live in melbourne to catch up with all the latest

on and off the court. donald trump is now the 45th president of the united states. he was sworn in before several hundred thousand people on the steps of capitol hill, in washington. it's going to be only america first. america first. demonstrators waiting for mike gatting and his rebel cricket team were attacked with tear gas and set upon by police dogs. anti—apartheid campaigners say they will carry on the protests throughout the tour. they called him the butcher of lyon. klaus altmann is being heldj on a fraud charge in bolivia. the west germans want i to extradite him for crimes committed in wartime france. there, he was the gestapo chief, klaus barbie. - millions came to bathe as close as possible to this spot —

a tide of humanity that's believed by officials to have broken all records. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. 0ur headlines... china's population falls for the first time in more than six decades. we look at the impact that is having on its economy. a big blow to the uk's car industry as an electric car battery company, britishvolt, collapses. belgian prosecutors have struck a deal with one of the main suspects in a european union corruption scandal. pier antonio panzeri will receive a reduced prison sentence in exchange for information. qatar and morocco have contested claims they offered bribes to try to influence the european parliament. 0ur reporter sofia bettiza

is following this story. great to get you on the programme. just take us through the latest developments.— just take us through the latest developments. just take us through the latest develoments. ,, ~ ., ., developments. sure, hi, antonio penn sarah is a former— developments. sure, hi, antonio penn sarah is a former member _ developments. sure, hi, antonio penn sarah is a former member of - developments. sure, hi, antonio penn sarah is a former member of the - sarah is a former member of the european parliament in brussels —— antonio panzeri. he was arrested in brussels a few days ago with other eu figures. now what's new is he's now admitted to participating in a criminal organisation and being an active corrupter. according to a statement by belgian's federal prosecutor, he's agreed to enter a plea bargain — and the reason that significant is he give details about how this criminal network was operating. now mr panzeri has a lawyer that just given an operating. now mr panzeri has a lawyer thatjust given an interview. let's listen to what he had to say.

translation: it is clear that mr panzeri's involved. - he did not deny it. this is a man who is destroyed. he will have to tell everything he knows, both about the beneficiaries of the corruption phenomenon, the organisation that was implemented, and the financial circuits that existed. in other words, he'll have to say everything he knows. this is part of the commitment he's made. fascinating stuff, just talk us through the background of this, tell us more about this eu scandal. weill. us more about this eu scandal. well, what we know _ us more about this eu scandal. well, what we know is _ us more about this eu scandal. well, what we know is that _ us more about this eu scandal. well, what we know is that a _ us more about this eu scandal. well, what we know is that a few _ us more about this eu scandal. -ii what we know is that a few days ago, four people were arrested in belgium. they are suspected of having accepted huge amounts of cash from qatar — which of course hosted the world cup recently — in exchange for gaining influence over political statements especially when it comes to workers' rights. now belgian police have also released pictures

of what they say —— they say they found huge amounts of cash, about $1.5 million in cash stash in a hotel room, in a suitcase. now the people who have been arrested remain in custody, including mr panzeri, and some of them are quite senior eu figures, including a vice president of the european parliament. so this doesn't look good for the eu institutions. it's also worth remembering that qatar strenuously denies trying to buy influence through gifts or cash. but as we've just heard from panzeri's lawyer, panzeri is ready to give details and name specific people involved in the scandal. so this latest development means more details will emerge soon. indeed, and i'm sure you'll be keeping us up—to—date on those latest details as they emerge.

thanks so much forjoining us on newsday. in kenya, lgbtq activist edwin chiloba, who was smothered to death in a killing that has shocked the nation, has been buried at his rural home. hundreds paid their last respects in the family's village of sergoit, many calling forjustice. five suspects including his former partner are in police custody, pending formal charges. the bbc�*s ferdinand 0mondi reports from western kenya. the final journey at this hospital mortuary in the town of eldoret. family and friends gathered to mourn edwin chiloba and receive his casket. the procession snakes its way to sergoit village, where hundreds were gathered to pay their last respects. the family had earlier said everyone was welcome to say goodbye. edwin chiloba's body was found stuffed in a box by the roadside not farfrom here in earlyjanuary. last week, the government's chief pathologist said mr chiloba had been smothered to death.

not supposed to take someone's life, and above all, may you rest in peace, chiloba. may you rest in peace and mayjustice be found. mourners who spoke here called for justice. the high turnout a result of the global condemnation chiloba's murder has created. human rights groups had linked his death to his sexuality, but the arrest of his former partner and four others has made the motive unclear. the suspects are awaiting for more charges in the next days. however, since chiloba's death, there has been widespread social media vitriol directed at the gay community, and even chiloba's relatives, over his sexuality. chiloba's cousin says it left them deeply hurt. some are claiming we do not bring up edwin well, we do not even give him love. so we are even confused. the family says all the hate should not take away from the fact that

a crime had been committed and justice must be served. 0ut there, edwin chiloba's death drew a cocktail of vile, hateful criticism of his sexuality. but here, everybody has been united in one voice that those who are responsible for his death must not go unpunished. they say edwin was an amazing human and an iconic fashion designer who loved taking pictures. a colourful life suddenly ended, leaving behind misery and untold pain. ferdinand 0mondi, bbc news, western kenya. sirjim radcliffe has confirmed his interest in buying manchester united. the 70—year—old, who founded the chemicalfirm ineos, has been a fan of the club since he was a child. mr ratcliffe attempted to buy chelsea last year, but his late offer was rejected — as todd boehly was successful in taking overfrom roman abramovich.

it is day three of the australian open, in melbourne. after extreme heat, then rain halted play on tuesday, it is going to be another—packed day of tennis. let's get more from melbourne now where, we can speak to marnie vinall. she's a sports reporter at the age newspaper. great to get you on the programme. i must say, it's pretty exciting, but now we've got extreme heat than rain. what do yesterday's results mean for the play today? incredibly bizarre day. — mean for the play today? incredibly bizarre day, especially _ mean for the play today? incredibly bizarre day, especially the - bizarre day, especially the internationals visiting, but may be a bit assumed from balbirnie he ends who are used to wild weather conditions. the matches were suspended until late in the afternoon, and hours later they were suspended again due to the rain. this impacted some matches more than others. all the outdoor courts had to just be constantly delayed, which

affected some games like one match was cancelled three times and rescheduled to today. a lot of rescheduled to today. a lot of rescheduled matches will now be rescheduled, and i can tell you it could be another chaotic day for the weather. {lilli could be another chaotic day for the weather. , ., ., , , could be another chaotic day for the weather. , , , , ., �* weather. oh my goodness, you're riaht weather. oh my goodness, you're right about _ weather. oh my goodness, you're right about that _ weather. oh my goodness, you're right about that unpredictable - right about that unpredictable melbourne weather. have you seen this sort of thing happen before at the australian open? are players and fans used to this? i the australian open? are players and fans used to this?— fans used to this? i mean, yes and no. fans used to this? i mean, yes and no- there's — fans used to this? i mean, yes and no- there's an _ fans used to this? i mean, yes and no. there's an element of- no. there's an element of frustration especially with players — he was really rejected when the player to make was rescheduled. if he was to win that, he would face andy murray in the second round, which would be a very exciting match especially for locals. but i think there is an element of us use being used to the weather disrupting things here and melbourne. i’m

used to the weather disrupting things here and melbourne. i'm glad ou things here and melbourne. i'm glad you brought — things here and melbourne. i'm glad you brought up _ things here and melbourne. i'm glad you brought up andy _ things here and melbourne. i'm glad you brought up andy murray - things here and melbourne. i'm glad| you brought up andy murray because it wasn't all about andy murray yesterday, what was the melbourne crown's response?— crown's response? melbourne absolutely _ crown's response? melbourne absolutely loves _ crown's response? melbourne absolutely loves andy - crown's response? melbournej absolutely loves andy murray, crown's response? melbourne - absolutely loves andy murray, his reception was amazing. you could tell we had a lot of vocal support behind him. the 13th seed in matteo berrettini — it went down to a tie—breaker in the fifth set, so a thrilling match, and our ghibli that's the biggest upset of the tournament so far. in that's the biggest upset of the tournament so far.— that's the biggest upset of the tournament so far. , ., ., ., ,, tournament so far. in terms of novak d'okovic, tournament so far. in terms of novak djokovic. it — tournament so far. in terms of novak djokovic. it was _ tournament so far. in terms of novak djokovic, it was the _ tournament so far. in terms of novak djokovic, it was the big _ tournament so far. in terms of novak djokovic, it was the big controversy l djokovic, it was the big controversy ahead of the australian open, have fans forgiven him and forgotten everything that happened last year? there was a lot of apprehension going into the australian open as to how melbourne crowds would react to djokovic, especially because melbourne was put into so many lockdowns. he was deported over his vaccination stance — but it was such

a warm welcome ahead of the open, craig tilley baer, ceo of tennis australia, says he hopes melbourne would be really receptive towards djokovic and the local crowd would respect his greatness, and that definitely seemed to be the case. he definitely walked out to huge applause from the crowd, and the whole crowds were covered in the serbian flag, t—shirts were made. it was a very warm welcome. the serbian flag, t-shirts were made. it was a very warm welcome. the power of tennis. was a very warm welcome. the power of tennis- and — was a very warm welcome. the power of tennis. and just _ was a very warm welcome. the power of tennis. and just to _ was a very warm welcome. the power of tennis. and just to say, _ was a very warm welcome. the power of tennis. and just to say, when you | of tennis. and just to say, when you look across the next couple of days, or today, what are you looking for on day three?— or today, what are you looking for on da three? ., ., , �* on day three? tonight at 7pm, we've not on day three? tonight at 7pm, we've got the united _ on day three? tonight at 7pm, we've got the united kingdom's _ on day three? tonight at 7pm, we've got the united kingdom's emma - got the united kingdom's emma raducanu up against teenager cocoa gaff from the us, and that'll be a really thrilling match. but before that, rafael nadal takes the court again in the world number one is backin again in the world number one is back in action. let's hope the weather behaves so we can get it all out the way.

weather behaves so we can get it all out the way-— out the way. indeed, i hope the weather behaves _ out the way. indeed, i hope the weather behaves as _ out the way. indeed, i hope the weather behaves as well. - out the way. indeed, i hope the | weather behaves as well. thanks out the way. indeed, i hope the - weather behaves as well. thanks for joining us on the programme. that brings us to the end of newsday, thanks so much for watching. hello there. the cold weather is here to stay for a bit longerjust yet, but the amount of snow we've seen has varied a lot from place to place. many of us haven't seen a single flake over recent days. there's been a smattering over the tops of the hills of the beautiful cumbrian lake district. but a bit more than that in highland, where we have seen some places reporting over 30cm of lying snow. that's where the majority of the disruption's been, but i suspect the disruptive potential is growing — these shower clouds, many of them with snow mixed in, are starting to become more widespread, and are moving their way across more areas of the western side of the uk — and with that comes the threat of disruption. so a band of snow crosses scotland southwards, crosses northern ireland southwards, with showers becoming much more widespread for wales and areas of western england. now we are going to see

accumulations of snow building up — 5—15 centimetres for these areas over modest hills, but at times, the snow will come all the way down to sea level. like recent nights, we still have seepage coming in from the fields, and with a sharp frost around, its notjust the snow that has the potential to cause some transport disruption on into wednesday morning. but there'll be widespread ice — again, bringing very, very dangerous conditions out on the roads. 0n the face of it, temperatures not quite as low as recent days, however, we've got stronger winds — and if anything, i think that's going to make it feel even colder. certainly a bitter—feeling day on wednesday. the winds ease off a little bit as we head into thursday, but we're not finished with the stream of showers — they will, this time, mostly be concentrated across scotland, perhaps a bit more of a mixture here. some rain, some seats and a bit of snow over the hills. there'll also be a few showers affecting the north west of both england and wales. that aside, there'll be plenty of sunshine around, and our temperatures — well, not really changing a great deal, 5—6 celsius, maybe a seven towards parts

of southwest england. however, we will see some bigger changes in our temperatures as we head into the weekend, particularly across the western side of the uk, as we start to draw up these south—westerly winds. but cold air slower to move away from the east. so, there will be a big jump up in temperatures across northern and western areas — in many cases, back into double figures — as we go through the weekend. but with that will come thick cloud and outbreaks of rain. the colder air still hanging on across eastern areas, but even here, temperatures should slowly rise closer to normal.

good evening. this is your update from the bbc sport centre. liverpool put their premier league woes to one side as they got the better of wolves to make the fourth round of the fa cup. there were four other ties this evening, including some late drama to knock out the former winners wigan. joe lenski reports. for liverpool, this was third round relief, a breakthrough in a tough spell and a first win of the new year. for now, at least, the smile is back there. gloom would lift in a match where briefly the lights went out. when wolves resumed, they gave liverpool a sighting. their 19—year—old midfielder took this tie on by himself,